What are the consequences of the disintegration of the antarctic ice shelf?

Question

Since the ice is already afloat, melting it won't have any effect on ocean levels by Archimedes' principle, so does it really matter if the antarctic ice shelf melts? Why do they always report it in the news when another chunk melts off - is it just because it is more evidence of climate change?

Answer 1

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this subject, for example you say that "the ice is already afloat" hence it won't raise sea levels - Liberator thinks the same thing - but as others, includign Manda, point out, the ANTarctic ice mass is mainly on land, and is not floating.

That is why sea levels will increase - the ice is not in the ocean but when it melts, the run off will go into the oceans, adding to the sea level.

Roughly speaking -

Antarctica, the continent (i.e. land mass) is about 14 mill sq km. and is more or less covered in ice. The average thickness of this ice is 2 km. That's 28 million cubic kilometres of ice that is NOT floating or about 25 million cubic kilometres of water that, if it melts, will enter the oceans.

This is enough to cover all of the USA under 2.5 km of water - about a mile and a half.

However this water will be spread out over all the oceans of the world (about 360 mill sq km) so 25/360 = .07 or an increased sea level of 70 metres...

And that's just consequence one of "the disintegration of the antarctic ice shelf"! (There's also disruptions to wind and ocean patterns, the consequence of all that freezing water entering warmer oceans, etc)

(And don't get me started on the inaccuracies in docmartens response... OK, just one! "1 inch of rain equals 1 foot of snow" and then he talks of ice... Ice is not snow as much as rain is not snow. The density of snow is much less than both rain and ice. Ice is approximately 90% the density of water hence 1 inch of rain equals 1.1 inches of ice... not so big a difference.)

Answer 2

I dont understand how sea levels cannot change if the ice caps melt. Please include a link where I can research the Archimedes principle. Thankyou.

However, I do see a problem for the wildlife in the arctic and antarctic regions. If we do have the power to protect them then I think we should.

Answer 3

Actually there is land under the Antarctic ice "pack".  The shelf's referred to in stories was an extension to the ice pack onto water.  You are correct about the ice shelf not effecting the ocean level but if the "ice pack" melts it would raise the ocean 230 feet.  (that's a lot of ice cubes). Actually the land ice may be called glaciers.  Google antarctic.

Answer 4

Did anyone ever think that the earth does what it feels like doing regardless of what the inhabitants think or say?   The Earth has this policy called natural selection.  When you cannot adapt to your new environment...you freakin die.   If the ice caps melt and change sea levels (wont be as high as some suggest.  Fill a glass with water and put tons of ice in it.  Let it melt and see what I mean.) it is the HUMANS own d**n fault for building metropolises next to the coast line.   Nature has this funny way of self correcting and when the planet needs to cleanse itself of parasites (humans and animals alike) it does so without conscience.

Answer 5

Glaciers form when snow falls, but doesn’t melt. Over time, the weight and pressure from above turns the snow into ice. Glaciers are rivers of ice; they form at higher elevations and flow downhill in response to gravity.

A large glacier is called an ice sheet. Glaciers and ice sheets remain on land. A glaciers life ends when 1) it reaches an elevation where the ice melts at a faster rate than new snow falls; or 2) the glacier reaches the ocean.

Once a glacier reaches the ocean, it may float for a period of time. Such floating glaciers are called ice shelves. Eventually piecing of the glacier will break off to form icebergs. This is called iceberg calving.

Iceberg calving is normal, but ice shelf disintegration is not. Ice shelf disintegration represents rapid warming. In the past 50 years, the western Antarctic Peninsula has experienced the biggest temperature increase on Earth, rising by 0.9 degree F per decade.[1]

With the ice shelf disintegrated, wave action will start to erode the coast. Because of their mass, ice shelves often are holding back glaciers. With the ice shelf gone, glaciers will flow off their mountains sooner and enter the ocean.

Answer 6

I believe you might be confusing Arctic and Antarctic ice.

The Arctic ice melting is not going to lead to higher sea levels but, since water is less reflective than ice, it could be a feedback effect leading to more warming.

The Antarctic ice melting will raise sea levels since it is over land, not floating.

Answer 7

well, there are a lot of consequences that can happen in a result of the Antarctic shelf melting. for example, penguins and polar bears, depending on which polar ice cap,will decrease in population and eventualy become extinct. if the polar caps were to melt completely or almost completely,there would be a dramatic change in water levels, causing half or most of the US to become flooded or underwater.

Answer 8

The reflection of the suns rays goes down and the ice shelf melts into water and since the water is dark it absorbs more of the suns heat and then another ice shelf breaks off and melts into water.It's like a cycle.

Answer 9

The problem is that the ice is not already afloat, it is instead attached to a small island, charcole or ash island or whatever the name of it is, when the attachment breaks water levels will rise accordingly.  We really don't know much about the matter, but I think it is safe to say that without a polar ice cap in the area water currents are going to be affected and changed and this could impact the heating of continents via the currents

Answer 10

People, just put water in a glass, add ice, and come back later to see if the water level in the glass has risen.

Just do the science.  See for yourself.

Please feel free to report the results.

Also, when you have a chance, ask people who live near the ocean if sea level rises during warm weather and falls during cold.

Answer 11

This article states the contrary to what you say.  And besides, the bigger concern is ice that used to be on *land* melting and falling into the ocean.  This contributes most of the sea-level rise.

Answer 12

Ice is always growing somewhere else on earth